10 things you didn’t know about Africa

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Africa

1. Africa is way bigger than you think

When you’re looking at the Mercator projection the African continent can appear smaller than it truly is. For example, Africa as a whole seems much smaller than the country of Russia. But in actuality, Africa is 1.77 times bigger than Russia. That means there’s a wide diversity of countries, cultures, and places to explore – adding it to your list of must-see places.

2. Africa’s population density varies widely

Africa’s population is spread unevenly throughout the content. Take a look at the map below. These two areas (one in red, the other in blue) have roughly equal populations. The country of Nigeria has the highest population in Africa (206 million people). In comparison, Namibia (2.1 million people) is the least densely populated in Africa with an average density of approximately 2.5 people per square kilometer.

3. The Safest Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (According to the Global Peace Index)

According to the Global Peace Index 2021 (published by The Institute for Economics & Peace), the ten most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are Mauritius, Ghana, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Tanzania, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea and Namibia.

4. Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050

The United Nations projects that the world population will reach 10 billion people by 2050. In these predictions, Africa will account for more than 50% of this growth. With almost 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25, Africa is the world’s youngest continent.

5. Africa holds the record of the biggest free trade agreement

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade agreement founded in 2018, with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021. The AfCFTA is the largest free trade area in the world measured by the number of countries participating. It connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion.

6. The oldest desert is located in Africa (Hint: it’s not the Sahara)

The world oldest desert is the Namib Desert, located in Namibia. Dating back at least 55 million years, the Namib has a longer history than the Sahara (which is dated between two to seven million years). In addition to being the oldest, the Namib is one of the driest deserts so it is mostly uninhabited by humans. Although the Namib seems inhospitable, it is actually a pretty popular tourist attraction.

7. The best roads in Africa are in…

Namibia has some of the best roads in Africa according to the World Economic Forum’s Quality of Road Infrastructure Report. Namibia’s road infrastructure quality remains the best in Africa for the past five consecutive years and outdoing South Africa and Rwanda. It has been ranked number 23 globally, surpassing economic giants such as China, India and Italy.

8. 11 countries in Africa drive on left side of the road

Out of 54 African countries 11 of them have left-sided traffic including Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, and Tanzania.

9. More than half of the countries in Africa recognize English as an official language

There are many local languages spoken in Africa butEnglish is used in government and business and as the main medium of instruction in schools in 23 countries in Africa what means that every fifth person in Africa can speak English.

10. The majority of Africans are followers of Christianity or Islam

Christianity and Islam are the two dominant religions in sub-Saharan Africa, together accounting for more than 93% of the population. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions. Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. In 2050, nearly four-in-ten of the world’s Christians (38%) are expected to be living in sub-Saharan Africa.

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